Motorcycles have many advantages. They are maneuverable, require much less parking space, consume less gas, and offer a sense of freedom on the open road. Unfortunately, they offer little in the way of protection in the event of a motorcycle accident.

This past Tuesday evening, a man was riding his motorcycle westbound in Holiday when an SUV cut him off. According to official reports, the driver of the SUV was traveling southbound and had stopped at a stop sign. It was when she tried to make a left hand turn from the wrong side of the street that she struck the motorcycle.

The violent force of the impact tossed the biker onto the hood of the SUV and then onto the road. He was not wearing a helmet and was taken to the hospital with extensive injuries. He died two days later. The driver of the SUV endured minor injuries.

While every driver should be careful and attentive on the road, it is particularly important to be aware of motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Their reduced profile means that drivers may fail to see them if they are distracted or failing to watch the road as closely as they should.

Accidents can lead to lost time at work, permanent disabilities, or in the most tragic of cases, death. While nothing can bring back those who die in crashes, and while some collisions may leave lasting marks, the law does provide a means to compensate those who have suffered pain and anguish as the result of another driver's negligence.

Source: Tampa Bay Times, "62-year-old biker dies after Holiday collision with car," Jan. 25, 2012.